'Give constitutional recognition to plain land adivasis'
Jatiya Adivasi Parishad forms a human chain at Shaheb Bazar Zero Point in Rajshahi city yesterday demanding formation of a separate land commission for the indigenous people living in plain lands and recognition to their identities according to traditional names.Photo: STAR
Indigenous leaders at a rally held here yesterday demanded immediate implementation of their seven-point demand including constitutional recognition of indigenous people of plain land. Jatiyo Adibashi Parishad (JAP) organised the rally around 11:00am at Alupatty in the city at with its president Anil Marandi in the chair. Rajshahi lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha also attended the rally and expressed his solidarity with the demands of indigenous people. Other demands included inclusion of indigenous communities in the census, their reserved seats in parliament and local government units, establishment of separate ministry and land commission for indigenous people of plain land. Speakers said the government has taken an initiative for constitutional recognition of indigenous people living in hill areas. They pointed out that the members of indigenous communities living in plain land had played a brave and bold role during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. They lamented saying, still they are termed as 'small ethnic groups,' not as specific communities. They said, some 30 lakh indigenous people of over 45 indigenous communities like Santal and Orao live across the country. Of them, 15 lakh indigenous people of 38 communities now reside in 16 districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. They lamented saying, the government is reluctant to acknowledge the true identities of indigenous communities living in plain land. Alongside the rally, the indigenous leaders formed a big human chain stretching from Alupatty to Moni Chattar that lasted for one hour. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the prime minister through the divisional commissioner of Rajshahi. Among others, JAP general secretary Rabindranath Saren, Broti executive director Sharmin Murshid, Manusher Jonno Foundation representative Rezwanul Karim, Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad general secretary Jamat Khan, JAP district unit president Bimol Rajoar, Naogaon unit president Amin Kujur, Natore unit president Ramanath Mahato, Rajkumar Sao, Ganesh Majhi, Khristian Biswas, freedom fighter Shahjahan Ali Borjahan and Mohila Parishad leader Kalpona Roy addressed.
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